El Camino Real

So awhile ago I wrote a paper on Cultural Landscapes (comparing the Biosphere Regions of the Southern Appalachians and the Spreewald in Germany) and it is a really cool topic. A cultural landscape is a landscape that has been shaped by many years, if not centuries, of human use. So when I was driving the 101 from LA to SF, poor Mr. C had to listen to me nerd out about this and the whole Mission topic and how I think they are really beautiful landscapes (not that I condone massacring a whole indigenous people) rooted deeply in California history.

The Bells came about as a way of recognizing the route that was Alta California's Camino Real. The Bells were hung on "Franciscan Walking Sticks" in recognition of the missionaries path up the states of California. Can you tell I really liked California State History and the Mission Project in 4th Grade?

Back to the idea of the Cultural Landscape, one huge issue is indicating to people the significance of the landscape in which they find themselves. Signage is well and good in certain circumstances but can become a bit dominant in the landscape while also being a little too reductive in the history of the place. I like these bells because they are discreet, a little glimpse of significance while not trying to communicate every little detail about this place but just enough information to peek one's interest. They are a nice gesture in the landscape and a successful form of signage, something important to all cultural landscapes to ensure they are understood and maintained.





Some of the more amusing attempts at getting a picture while going *65 mph.